The Chinese red pika (''Ochotona erythrotis'') is a species of

mammal A mammal () is a vertebrate animal of the Class (biology), class Mammalia (). Mammals are characterised by the presence of milk-producing mammary glands for feeding their young, a broad neocortex region of the brain, fur or hair, and three ...

in the family

Ochotonidae A pika ( , or ) is a small, mountain-dwelling mammal native to Asia and North America. With short limbs, a very round body, an even coat of fur, and no external tail, they resemble their close relative the rabbit, but with short, rounded ears. ...

. Typical of a

pika A pika ( , or ) is a small, mountain-dwelling mammal native to Asia and North America. With short limbs, a very round body, an even coat of fur, and no external tail, they resemble their close relative the rabbit, but with short, rounded ears. ...

it has short limbs, a small tail and round ears. Specific to the Chinese red pika has distinctive red color in its pelt. The Chinese pika typically lives in rocky terrain at altitudes between 600 and 1200 meters.Smith, Andrew T. "Pika". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 2013-08-15 and is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found only in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also foun ...

to the East Qinghai, West Gansu and Northern Sichuan

provinces A province is an administrative division within a country or state. The term derives from the ancient Roman , which was the major territorial and administrative unit of the Roman Empire's territorial possessions outside Italy. The term ''provi ...

China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...

and Eastern

Tibet Tibet (; ''Böd''; ), or Greater Tibet, is a region in the western part of East Asia, covering much of the Tibetan Plateau and spanning about . It is the homeland of the Tibetan people. Also resident on the plateau are other ethnic groups s ...

Description

The Chinese red pika is one of the largest

species,Ochotona erythrotis – Chinese Red pika. �
Wildpro – The Electronic Encyclopaedia and Library for Wildlife.
” averaging a length of 18 to 29 cm. This pika has both a winter and summer pelt. The winter pelt is thicker for the cooler weather, and is a grey color with a slight tint of red in the ear region. In the summer, this species has a coat that is a rusty-red color at the head and chest and progressively becomes more grey at the tail end of the animal. The stomach region of ''O. erythrotis'' is a white color in both pelts.

Speciation

The Chinese red pika was formerly regarded as a subgenus of Pika, included first with ''Ochotona gloveri'' and later with ''Ochotona rutila'' until they were determined to be separate species (mammal species). The pika species ''O. gloveri'' is believed to be the closest relative to ''O. erythrotis''. The two species are considered to have an

allopatric Allopatric speciation () – also referred to as geographic speciation, vicariant speciation, or its earlier name the dumbbell model – is a mode of speciation that occurs when biological populations become geographically isolated from ...

relationship. Differences between ''O. erythrotis'', ''O. gloveri'', and ''O. rutila'' are primarily seen in the shape of the skull and in fur color. The Chinese Red Pika has larger auditory bullae, a shorter nasals cavity, and a broader rostrum than ''O. gloveri''. It has a smaller, and more arched skull than ''O. rutila'' and additionally has frontal fenestrae. Additionally, these subspecies have different fur colorations. ''O. gloveri'' has darker fur than ''O. erythrotis''. Its summer fur is darker with more of a brown tint with a distinct rusty red color on the nose, forehead and ear region. In the winter, its coat is much lighter than ''O. erythrotis''.

Reproduction

''O. erythrotis'' have an average of two litters per year, usually averaging 3–7 young per litter. Their reproductive season is between May and August.

Geography

''O. erythrotis'' is found in China and East Tibet. Specifically in China, ''O. erythrotis'' can be found in East Qinghai, West Gansu and Northern Sichuan.

Habitat

The Chinese red pika is primarily a rock-dwelling pika. It can be found in cliff and rock terrain or in the alpine shrubland and meadows near rock formations primarily at an altitude of . This species has been observed to be adaptable and opportunistic in where it lives. This pika species is a burrowing species, which makes burrows that are 1–2 meters in length.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q311593 Pikas Mammals of China Endemic fauna of China Mammals described in 1890 Taxa named by Eugen Büchner Taxonomy articles created by Polbot